*ARC Review!* Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5 stars, a phenomenal read, everything that a high fantasy should be and an incredible addition to Fagan’s bibliography.

The Plot: 5/5
The book follows two main characters. Sister Sephre, a war veteran hoping to spend the rest of her retirement peacefully gardening in a temple and Yeneris, the bodyguard to a Princess Sinoe and prophesier as they try to deal with the aftermaths of an ugly religious war and, possibly, the apocalypse. But also, it is a story about finding and accepting yourself in its entirety. There are zombies, there is magic, there is political and religious intrigue, and not a single boring story beat.

The Worldbuilding: 4/5
The world of HoD was well thought out, and more importantly, well executed. Important information were scattered into digestible chunks, almost always after a particularly anxiety-inducing scene and served as a welcomed breather. It is easy to follow the history and you will be able to understand the bare bones of the lore to keep up. I was not given a map or a glossary (which would be necessary for lesser authors) but the world still felt real and lived in.

I particularly enjoyed the slight variations in theology between different kingdoms. It gives the world just that much more realism. The Gods being animals represented by different times of the day and different elements sounds like too much but it works and I’m into it.

However, the timeline of events could have been better elaborated, particularly the cataclysm and the war, and what exactly they were. And I’d love to know more about the city, which appears only as a shapeless void in my head with the lack of description.

This is a standalone, which is quite disappointing as we didn’t really get to know as much as I’d like and I do hope Fagan decides to write more books set in this world. I need to know the lore behind the other houses and kingdoms.

The Characters: 4/5
Perfect, 10/10, no notes.

We need more older female characters with a ton of baggage, still insecure, needs therapy and kicks ass, but also just wants to garden. Sephre, I will die for you. I do not suffer from PTSD so I cannot comment on the portrayal of that in Sephre but it succeeded in hurting me.

Yeneris is the typical trained-to-be-a-weapon fmc and she’s perfect, don’t ever change. Think Inej and Ead Duryan had a swoony, headstrong lovechild. Honestly, can’t blame her.

Sinoe is everything a princess should be. She’s kind, she’s smart, she’s friendly, she’s slightly sarcastic, ugh I love her too. The tragedy in her life was well portrayed and my heart was constantly aching for her, despite her not even being a pov character.

The side characters were a treat and a half. Each one of them were so distinct and it was obvious how much love and thought the author gave them.

On second thought, one note. The antagonists were mediocre. I prefer villains that occupy a larger bandwidth in a story and the antagonists in HoD fell flat for me.

The Prose: 5/5
One thing that really stood out to me throughout my reading were the gorgeous descriptions of the setting. Every change in scenery was accompanied by prose that stole my breath away.

House of Dusk by Deva Fagan will be published on 26 August 2025! I genuinely cannot wait to talk about it jsagfhsgfdkjggh

House of Dusk by Deva Fagan is a masterpiece of a book! It's pure art! It's amazing! I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't give it more stars. I wanted to give it 10 stars! It's perfect! The story is really perfect!

“ Priory of the Orange Tree” fans, of which I am one, rejoice! Here is another epic fantasy with a phenomenal and inclusive cast of characters, an intricate plot, supernatural happenings, immersive world building, and sapphic yearning. Bonus point for having one of the main characters be a mid 40’s, fire wielding woman with a past she can’t outrun. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW books for an ARC!

Magic, Betrayal,& a Sapphic Romance You Won't Want To Put Down!

This book is an absolute adventure! Baddie heroines, ancient magic, forbidden romance, and a world on the brink of chaos (I mean what else could one need for an epic fantasy, right!?). We get to meet Sephre, a fire wielding nun trying to escape her past (and trauma),and then Yeneris, a spy falling for the princess she’s meant to betray. Both of their stories are full of tension, tough choices, and some seriously emotional moments.

The world building is rich and immersive, packed with "dead" gods and high stakes intrigue. While the pacing keeps things moving fast, there were a few moments where I wished for just a little more... detail, especially when it came to character relationships.

That said, the romance is chef’s kiss! We have all the forbidden, slow burn love and feels. If you love sapphic fantasy with complex characters and epic stakes, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to embark on this adventure!

House of Dusk is a magical, heartfelt fantasy that completely drew me in. This dual POV follows Sephre, a sister of the House of Dawn and a former soldier, as she tries to make sense of the unusual murders happening across the land. Across the realm, Yeneris is a spy protecting the princess, while trying to bring justice to her fallen people,

What I Loved:

The magic system
The unique world building
Lovable and complex characters
Strong FMCs
Dual POV

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for the arc!

House of Dusk is a riveting young adult fantasy novel which expertly weaves two seemingly separate storylines. The slow-burn build-up of the two intertwining storylines creates a rich and emotionally satisfying climax, making the journey to the end feel well-earned.
One of the standout aspects of House of Dusk is the author’s refusal to over-explain the world or the magic. There’s no lengthy exposition or info dumps—readers are immediately immersed in the action and the mystery. This approach keeps the story feeling fresh and unpredictable, as we learn about the world in tandem with the characters. It’s a bold move, but it works brilliantly. The author trusts the readers to be curious, and in return, the narrative feels far more organic and engaging. You’re not bogged down with unnecessary details; instead, you're invited to piece things together as the story unfolds, making for a more interactive reading experience.
The world-building in House of Dusk is rich and immersive without feeling overwhelming. By not explaining everything upfront, the novel allows readers to explore its intricacies naturally. The society is well-drawn and woven into the narrative without slowing down the plot.
While we don’t get all the answers right away, that’s part of the appeal. The author allows the story to unfold at its own pace, keeping readers on their toes. The themes of power and identity are explored in subtle yet impactful ways, with each character forced to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.
With strong, relatable characters, an immersive world, and a compelling exploration of themes like identity, power, and belonging, House of Dusk is a standout addition to the young adult fantasy genre.

This was an incredible read. I can't believe this is Deva Fagan's first adult fantasy book. This is an epic story with romantic subplots, and it felt very indicative of stories like Blood Over Bright Haven, Priory of the Orange Tree, or She Who Became the Sun. I find stories like these are so relevant to current day. I kept thinking about how government, religion, and the winners in conflict write the history we all tend to follow and believe. And how blind belief can lead to horrible consequences. House of Dusk felt like a reminder to listen to your heart, but always think critically about everything you hear and see.

I loved the characters in this story. We have dual POV from two very powerful, strong, independent women who are navigating an intricate plot, a complex world, and very high-stakes.

10/10 highly recommend. And all of this in a standalone? AMAZING.

This story absolutely swept me off my feet. The emotional depth, the gorgeous world building, the aching pull between duty and desire all made this a book I did not want to put down. Every moment felt charged with both magic and meaning. This is a story that is going to stay with me for a very long time and I am absolutely in awe of how much beauty and heartbreak it held.

With fire-wielding nuns, a god of death, spies, and betrayal, this book checks all of the boxes for an epic fantasy. Following multiple POVs, House of Dusk offers a unique magic system and strong female protagonists, a fast pace and addicting storyline. The main characters are admirable and inspiring, while still being written with humorous and relatable inner monologues. Following the two FMCs is both inspirational and reflective, with a lot of character development and growth. The writing is immersive, with world building so detailed you'll feel like you're there. It's a story you won't want to put down.

4.5 stars rounded up

Ahhh this was so good! I love that it was a fantasy not focused on an 18 to 20-year-old but instead, one of the POV's is a former soldier/current fire wielding nun in her 40s. Sapphic rep? Check. Diversity? Check. Slow burn romance? Check. Well paced fantasy with well thought out world building that doesn't make the story drag? Check. I am so disappointed, actually, that this is a standalone. I want so much more from this universe and I was so invested throughout the entirety of the story. Deva Fagan, you will pay for your crimes of only giving me one book in this world!!

House of Dusk was a stunning romantic fantasy that had me at fire-wielding warrior nuns and a slow-burn sapphic romance between a prophecying princess and her bodyguard. And it more than lived up to my expectations.

This was a proper slow-burn too, with plenty of yearning, no kissing until the 75% mark, and wrestling with moral dilemmas of loyalty to the bodyguard's spy mission or to her heart. I didn't mind that I didn't get the POV of the princess too because I could tell how she felt through Yeneris's interpretations and hopes.

The story follows two points of view, starting with Sephre, a middle-aged nun for the House of Dawn who sought refuge in the cloisters from her PTSD from her previous life in combat. There used to be more houses, but only House of Dawn still stands. I found it interesting how the author emphasized that the philosophy of the stories the conquerers tell are the ones we believe in, even if they're wrong.

Sometimes the pacing could get lost in ethical dilemmas and political machinations but I loved the characters and worldbuilding.

The other pov follows Yeneris, bodyguard to Princess Sinoe, also known as the Sibyl of Tears. Cursed with the gift of prophecy, she is controlled by her father who believes himself to be the Ember King. But she's also a girl who sighs over romantic poetry and treasures a pet dragon/bird of prey creature. Yeneris is a double agent, secretly working for a group that seeks to return sacred bones to their rightful home. But she's also fighting a growing attraction to the princess.

I loved seeing two strong, smart butch women in this in the forms of Yeneris and Sephre, who has her own side romance with a mysterious green-eyed traveling man. I did not find that romance as compelling as that with Yeneris and Sinoe and almost felt that was too much romance for the story. They acted too much like teenagers.

The characters are fighting the rise of undead creatures who I thought at first were vampires because of the puncture wounds on their necks but act more like ghouls. They played a smaller part in the story than I expected vs the mythology and the politics of the religious houses.

Overall though I really loved this book, this world and the romance between Sinoe and Yeneris was swoonworthy. Priory of the Orange Tree was an excellent comp title. I hope this book has series potential because I would read more in this world. I got closure with the ending but it also felt like a small opening for that.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Beautiful read… strong female leads, magic, mythical worlds. Strong plot with lots of twists and turns. Great world building. Is there more? Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

It took me a minute to get fully into House of Dusk, but once I was in, I was IN. It's the perfect blend of magic, adventure, action, and romance, set in a beautifully crafted world with characters that I could practically feel breathing from the pages. In a market saturated with carbon copy shadow daddys and stabby FMCs, everything about House of Dusk felt fresh and new. The cast was robust, but I appreciated the limited POVs, because too often I think authors get caught up trying to show us everything, and then lose traction, leading to flat and boring characters. But I never once felt that here. Yen and Sephre are both strong and stubborn, yes, but their differences are obvious enough that each chapter was compelling. The plot twists are subtle, and even if some moments were predictable, I wanted to know how everything ended. If I had to offer any criticism, it would be that the climax felt a little rushed--but even this isn't really a complaint. I just didn't want it to end! Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the ARC!

By: Deva Fagan
Releasing: August 26, 2025

Happy Friday everyone! Today’s question- yearning or instant love trope?

I want you guys to know- despite how it might seem- I don’t put every book out here on my feed. Just the ones I need to read with someone or having omg-I-can’t-believe-that-happened conversations with in my DM’s. So we are skipping flat lay Friday for now so I can present to you this amazing book. Thank you to DAW for the advance reader copy and below is a no spoiler’s review.
House of Dusk- you NEED this book on your shelves. It centers around a FIRE wielding nun that has a slowing burning (get it? because she is fiery?) and yearning filled sapphic romance with the princess. The other POV is our princess, who also happens to have the gift of prophecy. My only first bone to pick- I can’t believe this is a standalone. I need more!
The vivid world building, compelling dual POVs, and beautifully written female characters are a refreshing change of pace in their ability to actually communicate with one another. There also wasn’t an instant “fated mates” connection, which I think led to the story being more believably for a fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, I love that trope, but it was nice to see the love story build over time. Both characters are morally grey BA women and will make you ru around your kitchen making little punching moments or longingly looking into your coffee wondering if anyone will ever hold such tenderness for you? Or maybe that was just me!


Stars ✨ : 4.5/5
Spicy 🌶️: 0/5
Girl power 💪🏼: 10/10
Yearning, pining, longing: ♾️/10

Superb. Fire wielding, existential angst, ancient Gods, romance; this book has it all. My only gripe is that I thought that some of the characters could use more buildup (their stories were glossed over). I hope this book takes off and gets all the attention it well deserves.

4.5 stars



Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read this book!

This is probably my favorite book I have received from netgallery. The world building was extremely interesting and each character felt well writing. They all had different personalities that meshed really well. I loved learning about the lore and how stories change depending on who is telling it. The action scenes were easy to follow and were enjoyable to read. I felt like it was nicely paced and after each chapter I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. One compliant I would say is the ending It felt too easy and to clean cut.

Thank you to my dad for taking me to libraries when I was younger. Thank you to my mom for funding my book fair splurges. Thank you to Ms. B my fifth grade teacher for buying me any and all the books I wanted. And thank you God for giving me these eyes, hands, and brain to consume literature. All your guys' efforts have led me here.

BECAUSE HOLY SHIT WHAT WAS THIS FREAKING MASTERPIECE. Where did this come from??? Why were my expectations not higher when I started reading this??? What just happened???

Uncannily similar to The Priory of the Orange Tree concept-wise but it's not like I give two rat-poops about that. I've been chasing the TPOTOT high ever since I finished it and now I can be a proper druggie again.

House of Dusk is told through two perspectives: war-traumatized soldier and now nun Sephre who gave up her sword and turned to the House of Dawn for a semblance of peace and bodyguard Yeneris who's infiltrated the Ember King's palace to take back her scattered people's saint and reunite them after the king's war destroyed their homeland. Sephre's journey starts because the long-banished supposedly evil Serpent god was rising to power again with a trail of dead bodies that the House of Dawn's Agia (leader nun basically) sends Sephre to investigate. Yeneris's journey begins when her prophesying princess lures Yeneris out to a circus and uses her to kill a Serpent god-byproduct demon spirit. We're off to exciting starts aren't we! If this doesn't make sense, it's because there's no way I can encapsulate this vivid world without spoiling anything. What I can do, however, is give you a list of things this book just absolutely completely delivered:

-world based off gods with different variations of myths and history based on region
-what story is right? theme
-nuns with powers based on god they worship and House
-closed off MC (Sephre) thawing because youthful friend + romance
-DELICIOUS MID-AGE ROMANCE REP romance ain't just for the young-uns ya know
-sapphic bodyguard (Yeneris) (who's actually supposed to be anti-princess's kingdom) x princess romance
-"ditzy" princess who's actually very clever and powerful
-complicated father-children tensions because he's crazy and power-hungry but still loves his kids
-ancient legendary people being reborn and history repeating
-POVs switch that aren't tiring and you actually look forward to (author how did you do that)
-tons and tons of beautifully fitting metaphors
-casually-dropped most hard-hitting lines ever like wow

And just a lot more but I don't have the word count for it. Guess y'all just have to read it for yourselves now 🤷‍♀️ Even though there's a lot, this book did not beat around the bush. The MCs figured out their business and they got to work man. Sometimes though, this was a bad thing. What made TPOTOT work was how long it was and all the words and chapters it could dedicate to flesh out all the beautiful concepts and characters. House of Dusk has all these beautiful concepts and characters, but not enough time with them to flesh it out. And I would've very gladly invested 10 more hours of my life reading if there was more to read. The fast-pace only negatively affected some parts though! Specifically Yeneris and her princess who were legit fantasy-version textbook U-haul lesbians. What do you mean they fake-kissed once and were ready to spend the rest of their lives together? It was almost unrealistic the lack of struggle Yeneris faced when choosing between duty and romance. There were also the too convenient plot points that helped speed things up. Characters rarely failed and basically just got what they needed first-try. All very BUP BUP BUP and not a shower I could soak in. And there were a lot of metaphors. Not enough to be annoying, but enough to be noticeable that there were a lot.

But I'm acting like these choppy things were super bad. They weren't. Look at my rating. I'm never forgetting this book. I loved the way Timeus softened Sephre's sharp edges. I love the way Nilos brought her to lightness. And I love the casual drop of the most hard-hitting lines in the universe of literature (exaggeration okay but still). I don't think I've ever added so many lines to my quote-book from one singular book before. It's an honor, author, to be blessed with your brain. So please give me more of it. A second book. A series. Posters for my walls. An animated adaptation. I'm getting slightly ahead of myself.

Anyway! Read this and join a beautiful new world. 4.5 rounded to 5 because I rate based off emotion not technicality and this book has all my feels. Thank you NetGalley and DAW for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Refreshing and complicated and a standalone! Jackpot, You don’t get all three very often! I’ve recommended this book to all my fantasy gals and I’m so so pleased I got an ARC of this book. A richly imagined world, romance, tension that had stakes and I honestly couldn’t get enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, DAW, and the author for letting me read and review this arc.

This story combines the POVs of Sephre, an ex-soldier turned fire-wielding nun, and Yenereis, an undercover spy who is now the bodyguard of the prophesying princess. The switching between POVs was really well done, and I liked having the perspective of an older person compared to that of a 20yo girl. I loved reading about their journeys and how and why they got to where they are when we meet them. There are magic, betrayal, and mysterious tales that seem to have different versions, but which version of the story is the truth?

There is a romance subplot, and it's an actual slow burn!!! Both main characters have their romantic entanglements, one more juvenile than the other, but both as interesting.

The ending was a nice wrap-up of all the elements that were revealed throughout the book. It's an amazing standalone, but if the author decides to write a sequel or a spin-off off then I'm totally for it because I'd love to see more of these characters and their journeys.

A romantic epic fantasy featuring a fire-wielding nun grappling with her dark past and a young spy caught between her mission and a growing attraction to an enemy princess. All the while dead gods rise and corruption creeps across the world in this sweeping standalone tale of forbidden sapphic love and dark betrayal.

In one word: Wow! House of Dusk is saturated with rich, full-bodied characters situated in a well-considered world that entirely immersed me. As soon as I heard “fire-wielding nuns”, I knew I was in for a treat. And Fagan did not disappoint! It took no time at all to fall in love with the female leads of this epic fantasy.

It’s a difficult thing to enrich your novel with information without overwhelming the reader. Each page contained new details critical to Sephre and Yeneris’s stories but it wasn’t a burden at all. Instead, it added to the pacing and built the characters brick-by-brick in an organic way. The humorous back and forth between Sephre and her companions was a highlight for me. Nothing like a bit of dark humour!

Furthermore, House of Dusk – despite having heavy religious themes – was refreshingly queer normative, including non-binary, gay, and sapphic characters. These characters were treated with respect and given complexities to make them tangible. And as an ace person, I found the romance to be accessible and not overbearing. Think yearning and playful.

Comparative titles to House of Dusk right off the bat would be Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson and The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen. There’s gods, death, and a new perspective on faith. It has the qualities of an epic fantasy – a world with vast history, many cultures and peoples, and politics that reach deep.

I’m truly grateful for a chance to read this eARC! Thank you to NetGalley and DAW Books for hooking a girl up. I’ve already pre-ordered my signed copy, and I can’t wait for that to arrive! And if Deva Fagan wants to write more in this universe, I’ll be first in line to read it!

Review TL;DR:
Rating: 5 / 5 stars
Strongest element: The characters! The world-building! The banter! The yearning!
Content warnings: Fire/fire injury, war, genocide, blood, death, death of a parent, child death, vomit, confinement.
Genre: Fantasy

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was well paced and the characters were well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.

5 stars immediately. if you don't want to read about a fire wielding nun, you're missing out. This book was perfect and even more I think it's perfect as a buddy read as well so you have someone to yap to

*Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC*

Intriguing, enthralling, and wholly immersive. I was completely taken in by the end of the first page.

Fagan did a phenomenal job of creating characters who are unique and a world with its' own lore and mythos. Sephre is a former soldier turned religious fire-wielding herbalist that struggles with decisions she made during the war. Yeneris is a spy posing as a bodyguard that might be falling in love with the princess she is meant to betray. I adored Sinoe and loved how all of her layers were slowly revealed, she is brilliant and unendingly brave.

I adored the complicated relationships that are showcased throughout. Sephre's struggle to accept her grief leads to difficultly creating new relationships. Her chosen family helps her to work through her grief and realize the power she holds because of who she is, not the mistakes she's made. There were Yen and Sinoe moments that had me worried if either of them would make it out alive immediately followed by events so cute I was kicking my feet with a smile on my face. The back and forth created the perfect pace.

The two stories are mostly parallel as their paths do not cross until near the end. Information learned through both points of view do a very good job of foreshadowing without making upcoming events obvious. The magic system is simple enough to be understood but varied and flawed enough that it felt real. While this is a standalone story, I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.

If you are in the mood for a high fantasy romantasy with magic, political intrigue, sapphic love, grief journeys, sybils, ghost/demons, and so much more House of Dusk delivers all of this and more.

Two women. One rising god. A world on the edge of ruin—and love at the center of the storm.

If you’re looking for a standalone epic fantasy that wields divine magic like a weapon and love like a prayer, House of Dusk will leave you breathless and burning.

Let’s start with the heroine who literally sets things on fire: Sephre, a guilt-ridden war hero turned flame-wielding nun, spends her days purifying corpses and her nights suppressing memories of bloodshed and betrayal. She is a character of ash and absolution, torn between the oaths she took and the rage still simmering in her bones. And when the dead stop staying dead? Sephre must choose whether to be a weapon of penance—or a spark for revolution.

Enter Yeneris, a spy raised in shadows, trained for deception, and buried in grief. Disguised as a bodyguard, she infiltrates the enemy court to retrieve a relic—but her mission is complicated by the princess she’s sworn to protect and the dangerous, tender attraction growing between them. Sinoe, the prophecy-weeping princess, is ethereal and fierce in her own right, and the romance that blooms between her and Yeneris? It’s achingly intimate, forbidden, and beautifully earned.

The worldbuilding? Mythic and immersive—serpents slithering from the underworld, long-dead gods rising, and magic drawn from saints, flames, and secrets. Deva Fagan builds a landscape teetering on collapse and asks her characters to either break it—or save it.

What makes this novel shine is its emotional depth. It’s not just about war and gods—it’s about identity, redemption, and love in the face of legacy. Sephre and Yeneris are both broken by the past and burdened by their roles, but their stories become a hymn of defiance and desire.